Troubleshooting tips

Problem	Cause	Remedy
Loops at the side of the knitting	Tension mast too loose/ tension wire springs back too high Carriage going too far past the end of the knitting	Tighten the tension mast until the yarn is just gripped Stop when you hear the “click”
Loops at the side of the knitting with very fine yarns	Tension mast too loose (even if already at maximum)	Try wrapping the yarn around the tension mast again to increase the tension
End stitches are pulling tight	Tension mast too tight/ tension wire pulling down towards carriage Taking carriage too far away from edge of knitting Yarn wound too tight	Loosen the tension mast until the yarn is just gripped (towards the minus sign on Japanese machines) Stop carriage movement immediately after hearing "click" at end of row Check if yarn comes up from the ball freely; if not, wind the yarn again
Stitches dropping in same places every time	Damaged needle	Replace needle
Stitches dropping in random places	Flat needle retainer bar	Replace needle retainer bar with a new one.
Stitches dropped at side	Taking carriage too far Tension too tight or too loose Faulty needle	Stop carriage movement immediately after hearing "click" at end of row Set correct tension for yarn used Replace needle
Stitches dropped in centre	Latch brushes worn Faulty needle	Replace brushes Check latch movement. Replace needle if necessary.
Stitches stripping from machine	Badly seated carriage/sinker place	Check and reseat
Stitches “tucking” in same places every time ie loops building up in needles	Damaged needle – latch not closing properly	Replace needle
Carriage jams (Japanese machines)	Yarn caught in sinker plate Random needles catching in sinker plate – too much “bounce” Foreign body in sinker plate Yarn not feeing in correctly Needles or needle latches bent Needle butts were not all in a straight line Knot in yarn caught in yarn feeder Insufficient lubrication	Remove sinker plate, release carriage and carefully disentangle Replace needle retainer bar Sinker plates have magnets – check for lost tools! Check the path of the wool from the ball through the yarn tension unit. Replace bent needles Take carriage back to the side and unravel row, reset needles Ease knit through yarn feeder using transfer tool (knit carefully on next row, knot should knit fine, you might want to tease any ends onto the wrong side of the knitting) Oil sides of cams and nylon runners beneath carriage
Lock jams (Passap)	Not enough pressure on knitting (using orange strippers)	Remove locks and strippers carefully, and then use blue strippers Add weights
Squealing or screeching noise when moving carriage – sometimes worse in one direction. Carriage can also jam	Static/fluff build up	Clean underside of carriage and bed surface with a brush, apply a small amount of oil to back rail on bed and to hinges on underside of carriage. This happens more with fluffy and handknitting (not oiled/waxed) yarns. Try running them over a white non-scented candle when winding into a ball. You might also try hydrating the yarn overnight in the freezer or lightly dampening it with a spray bottle of water. Other suggestions: wipe the machine bed with a dryer sheet, earth it with a thin metal wire (I use a scourer), get a humidifier for the knitting room.
Yarn breaks	Fragile/dried yarn Tension too tight Poor quality yarn Knots in wool becoming untied	Rehydrate by leaving in the freezer overnight, in a plastic bag Loosen the tension (especially if using the ribber) ie a large number Use a better quality yarn, or wax it when winding Use reef knot or weaver's knot
Carriage jams	Flat needle retainer bar Damaged needles	Replace with a new one Replace
Carriage jams (Passap only)	Orange stripper – black part has damage Black stripper – black wheel has damage Orange stripper – metal blade is bent Black stripper – blade damage	Use a fine sandpaper and smooth down any rough bits OR replace stripper Replace Replace blade or entire stripper
Cannot get consistent tension results on a well-used machine	Build up of yarn fuzz in tension discs Tension wires failure (metal fatigue)	Disassemble and de-fuzz tension discs Wires have lost their spring – replace or swap if possible
Yarn builds up on gate pegs (Japanese machines only)	Not enough weight	Add more weight
Fluffy yarn builds up on gatepegs (Japanese machines only)	Mohair and similar yarns catch on gatepegs	Pull the knitting downwards every few rows
Incorrect patterning (Japanese punchcards)	Dirt in punchcard slot Faulty pattern selection drum	Vacuum the slot Requires professional repair
Incorrect patterning (Japanese electronics)	Dirt in mylar sheet reader Dirty mylar sheet Badly-marked mylar sheet	Vacuum the slot Clean the sheet Go over the markings – these machines can be fussy!
Uneven knitting	Yarn not feeding in correctly Sinker plate unit loose Yarn uneven or knotted	Check the path of yarn and check if ball is not wound too tight Loosen the thumb screws. Push the unit all the way back towards the carriage until it locks in. Tighten both thumb screws. Check yarn quality